Kevin Durant rented a house in the Hamptons over the July 4 weekend for the final round of NBA suitors to woo him. And then he holed up there after the bombshell that he had decided to sign with the Warriors simultaneously broke the internet and Thunder fans’ hearts.

“I didn’t leave my bed, because I was like, ‘Man, if I walk outside somebody might just try to hit me with their car or say anything negative to me,’” Durant told USA Today. “I just stayed in. I was trying to process it all. I wanted to be around family and positive support. It felt different.”

The star of the Thunder squad that fell one game short of defeating the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals braced himself for the onslaught of anger he knew would be coming his way. While Thunder fans violently destroyed his jerseys and NBA legends Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller chastised him for joining the Warriors’ superteam, instead of trying again to topple them, Durant took shelter in that same Hamptons home and distracted himself in the best way he knew how: video games.

Durant, who revealed little at his introductory Warriors press conference, opened up to the media Tuesday at Team USA camp and revealed his thoughts behind the groundbreaking decision and heated aftermath.

“I mean, I’ve been somewhere for so long and then to make a change like that, [which] nobody knew was coming, that nobody didn’t think I would do, of course I didn’t know how it would be received afterwards,” said Durant, whose deal is for two years and $54 million.

“But at some point, I just said, ‘Look, man, life goes on. Life moves on, and I can’t hide forever,’ so I just had to face it.”

Russell WestbrookNBAE via Getty Images

One of the questions he’s had to face repeatedly is how much his relationship with Russell Westbrook affected his decision to leave the more hero-balling Thunder for the synchronous Warriors. And while Durant denied any rift with Westbrook, his preference for the Warriors, which encompasses their playing style and players, came through loud and clear.

“I can’t really control it, but I just made a decision based on where I wanted to go, man,” Durant said. “It was as simple as that. We can think about all the reasons and the factors and what factored in, but it was simple. That’s where I wanted to play basketball.”

Durant will take his talents to the star-laden Warriors, leaving loyal Thunder fans and his eight-year sidekick in his wake. Durant said he has yet to talk to Westbrook since the two dined out in the days leading up to free agency.

“No, not really. Not really. Not in depth. But I’m sure that will happen at some point,” Durant said.